STEPPING STONES, Candlewood Lake Cottage, 3BR 2BA w/ Hot Tub & Pool Table!

Classic, charming, and beautifully furnished, this stone "cottage" on Candlewood Lake, 70 miles north of NYC, is the perfect weekend retreat with lake views and beach access through nearby town park. Billiards, deck, grill, hot tub, Aga kitchen, and quiet forest setting. 5 minutes off route 7, 10 minutes from Danbury CT.

Classic,charming, and beautifully furnished, this stone "cottage" on Candlewood Lake, 70 miles north of NYC, is the perfect weekend retreat. Lake views from living room, pool room, and deck, with lake access (sandy beach, roped-off swim area with float dock, picnic tables, beach volleyball net, etc.) at nearby Lynn Deming Park just a mile away. At the house, you have pool table, lake-facing deck, grill, hot tub, Aga kitchen, and quiet forest setting. 5 minutes off route 7, 10 minutes from Danbury CT. The "gemutlich" ambiance of an original 30s lake house with its fieldstone walls, pine shiplap paneling, vaulted ceilings, wood-burning fireplace, and period antiques is what makes this house so charming. Flooded with natural light, with lake or lush green forest seen from every room, this is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the feeling of home. You can enjoy use of the entire house, deck, yard, and driveway parking for one vehicle. There's a Weber grill on deck year-round and hot tub right off the deck are yours to use--just please leave things clean and "as you found them" upon departure. Washer and dryer in basement available to guests booking for a week or more; otherwise, basement and garage are not accessible.

Other than greeting the guests and giving you brief orientation, the house is yours to enjoy.

If the lake is frozen solid and smooth in the winter, ice skating is always possible, and if there is a blanket of snow on top, then cross-country skiing is at its finest. In the summer, swimming, kayaking, and lounging in a beach chair by the waterside are your favorite pastimes, your host will accommodate your transportation to Lynn Deming lakefront park just a mile away. Or, you can rent a boat from Gerard's or Echo Bay Marina down the road and enjoy water skiing, wakeboarding, or tubing on Candlewood Lake. Things to do outside the community: ~ Farmer's Market in New Milford on Saturday mornings in the warmer months. ~ Many hikes in the area (Naromi Land Trust trails [(website hidden)], access to the Appalachian Trail + more.) ~ Pratt Nature Center, biking on Lake Waramaug, Elephant's Trunk Flea Market, Bank Street Theater, and more on Guidebook ~ Like to ski? The cabin is centrally located close to several ski slopes! * Thunder Ridge: a family oriented starter slope is about 20 minutes away across the NYS border in Patterson, NY * Woodbury Ski Area a family resort, has winter tubing and other fun activities...45 minutes from the cabin * Butternut in Great Barrington, MA is 1.5 hours away...a great family ski resort * Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall, CT is 45 minutes away.

The only convenient way to get to New Milford is to DRIVE--and you really will need to rely on GPS to find it. However, if you have friends coming from NYC, the closest train station is Danbury, CT (about 20 minutes away) but the most convenient --because it is a direct line and does not require transferring--is Brewster, NY (about 30 minutes away). A cab from either of these places will probably run $40-$50, so usually not feasible. If you are coming from an airport on CT Limo, your stop in Danbury is at the Maron Hotel, where you might catch a $35-45 cab to the house. There is plenty of shopping on Route 7 in New Milford (Walmart, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, etc.) and your best grocery stores are Stop & Shop, Big Y, and Aldi. If you want to hike, you are near the Appalachian Train entrance in Bull's Bridge and Kent, and there's great hiking at several state parks: Lover's Leap, Kent Falls, Mt. Tom, and Macedonia are the closest and most convenient. The local park is Harrybrook, and just down Candlewood Lake Road South is a small park called Dykes Point which gives you a lovely path along the lake. For Memorial Day through Columbus Day (end of May through mid-October, the house is rented by the WEEK ONLY at $2500 per week. A daily price might show up on these dates but the house is indeed only available weekly in summer. However, if you see that a summer week is NOT booked 24-48 hours in advance, feel free to inquire about specific dates within that week (two night minimum) and we will try to accommodate if possible.

Important: the house is normally occupied by a cat named Mr. Magoo. He will be off-premises during your visit (unless you WANT to have a sweet cat around during your stay) but anyone with cat allergies should be warned, or bring your own Zyrtek! Some people are sensitive even no matter how well the house is cleaned... House, driveway (parking for one vehicle), deck, hot tub, yard, propane grill, etc. are all yours to enjoy. Beach access, boat slip, and tennis courts are possible with pre-approved monthly rental. Washer and dryer in basement can be made available to guests booking for a week or more (steep stairs, so preapproval is required to use them!). The basement, attic storage, and garage are off limits.

While the house is located in a secluded, almost "rural" area of New Milford, it offers modern convenience in that there is plenty of shopping just a few miles away on Route 7 : Walmart, Home Goods, Hope Depot, TJ Maxx, Staples, Peach Wave, etc.). Your best grocery stores are Stop & Shop, Big Y, and Aldi, and you can seek out your favorite libation at Classic Liquors or Nejame package store. If you want to hike, you are near the Appalachian Trail entrance in Bull's Bridge and Kent, and there's great hiking at several state parks: Lover's Leap, Kent Falls, Mt. Tom, and Macedonia are the closest and most convenient. The local park is Harrybrook, and just down Candlewood Lake Road South is a small park called Dykes Point which gives you a lovely path along the lake.

This is my HOME, not a primary rental. Some clothes may be in closets, toiletries in cabinets, food in pantry. This home requires that you have GUEST mentality, not a renter's attitude, and guests are expected to respect the home and the owner's personal belongings the same way they would expect someone to treat their own private home. Holiday and "peak season" weekends are priced accordingly. An additional cleaning fee is required for approved pets. Because the house is occasionally occupied by pets, people with allergies to dogs or cats should take note and be warned --this house may not be appropriate for people with allergies. Always ask if a dog or cat has stayed lately if you want to avoid allergic reactions.